Boris Becker says constructive criticism helped Novak Djokovic's resurgence.
The truth hurts—and helped Novak Djokovic regain his edge.

Former world No. 1 Boris Becker, Djokovic's former coach, says blunt constructive criticism sparked the Serbian during their three-year partnership.

More: Djokovic's Tour Sells Out in 7 Minutes

In an interview with Marca, Becker said he sat down with Djokovic for a 48-hour deep discussion on tennis before signing on as coach.

The Hall of Famer revealed he delivered two criticisms directly to Djokovic: complacency and a unimposing serve were preventing him from fulfilling his potential.

"I went to see him in Monte Carlo and for 48 hours we only talked about tennis," Becker said. "I told him that I was always going to be very honest with him if things were not going to work: The reason why you can't be better is because you got comfortable being number one and you didn't improve. Both Nadal and Federer have. I don't like your position on the track and I don't like your service either."

Djokovic began working with Becker in December, 2013. The Belgrade-born baseliner won six Grand Slam titles during the pair's three-year partnership.

These days Becker spends time overseeing the German Davis Cup squad and providing commentary for Eurosport and says he'd be open to returning to coach under the right circumstances.

"I do not rule out that option, but right now I could not because I am responsible for the German Davis Cup team," Becker told Marca. "But nothing is eternal. If there are players that interest me, that allow me to train and want to be open with me, then that is something I could definitely consider.

"The problem with training is that it takes up a lot of time. When I collaborated with Novak Djokovic, I spent 25 to 30 weeks with him. That includes the preseason and smaller tournaments. I have a family and I have other professional projects to worry about right now. But I don't want to rule out the option to train because tennis is my great love."

World No. 1 on concerns about playing New York.
Ashleigh Barty is pumped about the prospect of tournament tennis returning, but the reigning Roland Garros champion is wary about playing the US Open.

The US Open main draw is scheduled to start on August 31st. New York City has been the epicenter of the coronavirus crisis in the United States.

More: Coco Gauff Continues to Inspire with Moving Speech

The USTA is proposing moving the Western & Southern Open from its Cincinnati home to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York and playing the tournament right before the US Open. Both the Western & Southern Open and US Open would likely be played without fans in an effort to provide a healthy safe zone for players and staff.

The world No. 1 told the Sydney Morning Herald she'll need to understand all of the safety information from the USTA and WTA before deciding whether to play in the U.S. 

"It's exciting that tennis is being talked about again and things are moving in the right direction for us to start competing but I'd need to understand all of the information and advice from the WTA and the USTA before making a decision on the US events," Barty told the Herald.

The New York Times reports international athletes traveling to the United States could have their 14-day quarantine waived, however it's uncertain if that quarantine waver would apply to coaches, physios and members of players' teams.

 "It's not just me, it's my team I have to consider," Barty said.

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

The 16-year-old spoke from the heart. She is becoming a source of inspiration for young people everywhere. A week after promising to use her growing platform for good, Coco Gauff has stepped up her game in the fight for social justice. The 16-year-old gave a speech to peaceful protesters in her hometown of Delray Beach, Florida, telling them that they need to make sure they have their voices heard, no matter how big or small their platforms are.

My speech at the peaceful protest in my hometown of Delray Beach, Florida. #blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/Jeyswzt7n5

— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) June 4, 2020

“I’m here to tell you guys that we must first love each other no matter what,” Gauff said. “We must have the tough conversations with our friends. I’ve been spending all week having tough conversations, trying to educate my non-black friends on how they can help the movement. Second, we need to take action.”

The current World No.52 is calling for action and playing a pivotal role at mobilizing her peers, both inside the sport and out.

“You need to use your voice, no matter how big or small your platform is, you need to use your voice,” Gauff said. “I saw a Dr. [Martin Luther]King quote that said, ‘The silence of the good people is worse than the brutality of the bad people.’ So, you need to not be silent. If you are choosing silence, you’re choosing the side of the oppressor.”

Gauff has received praise from her WTA elders, including Kim Clijsters and Chris Evert.

“Thank you for being a girl that my daughter will learn from and look up to,” Clijsters tweeted. “I promise that we will keep on teaching our kids the right thing to do so that they can pass it on too. It all starts at home!”

Evert called Gauff “A role model, leader, visionary in the making,” on Twitter.

"I believe we have a future leader, role model, and activist in Coco Gauff," she posted. "At the young age of 16, she is showing up in the fight against racial prejudice. She could champion human rights and still be a champion in tennis. I believe she can be an inspiration and do it all."

"If you ask me today if I want to travel to play a tennis tournament, I will say no," says Rafa Nadal.
Rafael Nadal says in the current coronavirus climate, he would not travel to New York to defend his US Open title.

The 19-time Grand Slam champion said if the US Open were played this week, he would not be comfortable playing. However the second-ranked Spaniard says he trusts the USTA will "make the right decision" on the 2020 US Open.

More: 34 Stats to Celebrate Nadal's 34th Birthday

The ATP and WTA jointly announced an extension of the pro circuit through the start of August.

The USTA is proposing moving the Western & Southern Open, traditionally staged in Cincinnati in August, to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows as a prelude to the US Open. Both tournaments would be played in succession likely without fans in an effort to minimize travel and exposure to the virus for players and staff.

The Tours are considering the proposal now, according to The New York Times. 

In a Zoom interview with the media, Nadal said he would not play in the current COVID-19 climate.

"It is not ideal. Right now I would not like to go play a tennis tournament in New York," Nadal said. "But I do not know in two months because we do not know if the situation is going to improve. I am sure that the people who organize the tournament want that the event is safe and that the French Tennis Federation wants the same thing.

"They want to play if everyone is going to be safe. I trust that they will make the right decisions at the right time. If there is not total security, there is no sense in playing because we have to be responsible and lead by example.

"It's not an ideal situation—if you ask me today if I want to travel to play a tennis tournament, I will say no. I am confident they will make the right decisions in the right moment to be sure that if (the US Open) is played it is going to be under extremely safe circumstances—if not, in my opinion, it doesn't make sense."

The reigning Roland Garros and US Open champion said the international travel required for players and staff casts a cloud of concern over tournament tennis.

"We have a worldwide sport and my feeling is that we need to be clear and responsible," Nadal told the media. "It's not the same as football which can be played in one country. When you mix people from every single part of the world the complications are completely different.

"We need to understand that we are suffering an unprecedented situation and my feeling is we need to come back when all the players of all the world are able to travel under safe circumstances."

Still, Nadal, who celebrated his 34th birthday on Wednesday with birthday cake at the Rafa Nadal Academy in his native Mallorca, is confident tennis will eventually return safely.

"If not, in my personal opinion, will we come back? Yes, and I probably will play, yes, but my feeling will be that we are not being 100 per cent fair and correct," Nadal said.

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve